Tester introduces bill to block automatic Congressional pay raise

Tester’s No Pay Raise for Congress Act will prohibit Members of Congress from receiving any increase in their pay during 2013.

Tester said that raising lawmakers’ pay when constituents are struggling to pay bills is an insult to Americans.

“At a time when millions of Americans continue to tighten their belts, I believe Members of Congress should do the same,” Tester said. “Preventing lawmakers from receiving an automatic pay raise is one small step we can take toward restoring accountability to the American people.”

Tester has voted each year since 2009 to block the automatic Congressional pay raise. Without Tester’s bill, lawmakers would receive the cost of living increase under federal law.

Tester is also a co-sponsor of legislation that would repeal the automatic annual increase in Congress’s pay.